Robert C. Johnson, 88, husband of Susan (Brown) Harrington Johnson, died peacefully Friday, July 1, 2016, in New London.
Son of Laura and J. Curtis Johnson, he was born in Delta, Pa., where he attended public schools. He enlisted in the cadet program of the Army Air Corps in 1944, with the war ending before he could commence pilot training. After service with the headquarters squadron, 13th Air Force in the Philippines, he entered Yale University where he received a degree in industrial administration. Following graduation, he married Linda Herold of Princeton, N.J. in 1953. Linda passed away in 1991.
Bob worked in the manufacture of naval nuclear fuels for 28 years, beginning with Westinghouse, where he supervised the prototype core for the Skipjack submarine. He moved his family to the Sachems Head area of Guilford in 1959 after joining Olin Corporation as manufacturing engineering manager for its newly formed nuclear fuels operation. Olin spun off United Nuclear Corporation two years later, and Johnson managed chemical operations in Missouri and Rhode Island for the new company. He earned an MBA degree at the University of New Haven after becoming vice president of finance, in which role he negotiated his company's contracts for naval nuclear fuels.
He moved to Mason's Island in Mystic in 1977 after United Nuclear consolidated its operations in Montville. In 1981, he joined Windsor Manufacturing as financial vice president, continuing there until his retirement in 1991. He later served on the boards of Twin Manufacturing and Clearwater Systems corporations. He held memberships with the Financial Executives Institute, Sachems Head and Masons Island Yacht Clubs and the Mystic Congregational Church.
In his civic roles, Bob served as school board chairman in Guilford during a period of explosive housing growth and school construction in the '70s, and as scout leader. He developed a passion for sailing while living on the coast of Long Island Sound and was an avid bridge player.
Above all, one could not know Bob without knowing the unrelenting pride and devotion he held for his family. He keenly followed the lives of his 16 grandchildren, relishing in their achievements as each followed their unique course in life. In his presence, everyone felt valued and important. Bob routinely shared wisdom and perspective in a manner devoid of pretension. It was his way to craft a meaningful relationship with each fellow human being he came to know. Bob made his friends and family feel immensely special; this effect was felt uniformly by all who knew Bob over his 88 years.
In addition to his wife, Sue, whom he married in 1994, he is survived by David and Caryl Johnson of Needham, Mass., Peter and Nancy Johnson of Andover, Mass., and stepchildren Willis Harrington of Stonington, Laurie and Kevin Riley of Billings, Mont., Nancy and John Collins of Eliot, Maine; as well as 16 grandchildren.
Burial in Elm Grove Cemetery will be private. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. July 8, 2016, at Mystic Congregational Church, followed by a reception at the Mason's Island Yacht Club.
Contributions may be made to Mystic Congregational Church, 43 E. Main St., Mystic, CT 06355, or to the Mystic Noank Library, 40 Library St., Mystic, CT 06355.